One day in Bergamo: a day trip itinerary
A guide to exploring this underrated Italian city in just 24 hours
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I love Bergamo, but I first visited by accident, thinking I was flying into Milan (a classic mix-up with Milan airports). It was a happy accident as I loved the city and have been recommending it ever since. A hilltop medieval town layered with history, good food, and dramatic views — Bergamo is the kind of place that quietly charms you and stays with you.
It’s an easy day trip from Milan, and well worth carving out a few hours for — especially if you’re craving something slower-paced and full of character.
If you’re spending just one day in Bergamo, here’s how to make the most of it.
Is Bergamo worth visiting?
Absolutely — and honestly, I think it’s one of the most underrated cities in Italy.
Bergamo has a layered history shaped by both Roman and Venetian rule, which you can still feel in places like Piazza Vecchia and the old city walls. It has all the charm you’d expect from an Italian town, but without the heavy crowds you’ll find in more well-known spots. It even has a few wonderful art museums and palazzos to explore, so it’s the kind of place that ticks all the boxes for me.
How to get to Bergamo
From Milan: Trains run regularly from Milano Centrale to Bergamo and take just under an hour.
From the airport: Bus No. 1 connects Orio al Serio Airport (Bergamo Airport) with both the lower and upper towns. It’s included in the local day travel ticket.
Check Trainline if you’d like to book ahead.
Morning in Bergamo: Head to the Upper City
Take the funicular to the Città Alta
Don’t be a hero — take the funicular. It’s quick, cheap (about €1.70), and saves you from a sweaty hike up the hill to the old town. Plus, it gives you your first proper view across the rooftops and green hills of Lombardy.
Stop for a morning pastry
Nessi is a traditional bakery that you’ll find just outside of the funicular station. They have a wide range of pastries, most notably the polenta e osei which is a polenta domed cake.
Visit Palazzo Moroni
Start your day at one of Bergamo’s best hidden gems — Palazzo Moroni. It’s genuinely one of my favourite things to do in Bergamo, and such a good example of why I always spend way too long scrolling across Google Maps before a trip. That’s how I came across this 17th-century Baroque palazzo, tucked away in the heart of the Città Alta.
Once home to the Moroni family, the palazzo is full of rich details: trompe-l’oeil frescoes across the ceilings, rooms that feel lived in rather than roped off, and a peaceful atmosphere that makes it easy to imagine daily life here centuries ago. It’s also blissfully quiet — no crowds, no overbearing room attendants.
Book a ticket to Palazzo Moroni here.
Don’t miss the garden at the back. After wandering through the house, we found ourselves in a raised courtyard that leads into an unexpectedly vast green space. It feels like a secret park, right in the middle of the old town.
And just a heads up — it's closed on Tuesdays, so plan accordingly.
Walk along Via Gambito
This is the main street running through Bergamo’s Città Alta, and there are lots of nice shops and restaurants running along it. Have a little wander before stopping for lunch and exploring the Piazza Vecchia.
Midday in Bergamo: famous pizza and Piazza Vecchia
Notes about food in Bergamo
Like nearly every area of Italy, Bergamo is a foodie’s heaven with several local specialties.
Casoncelli – Stuffed pasta filled with pork, breadcrumbs, cheese, and herbs, usually served with butter and sage. You’ll find this on nearly every local menu.
Scarpinocc – Similar to casoncelli but vegetarian, these are filled with cheese, potatoes, and herbs.
Polenta taragna – A hearty buckwheat-based polenta, often served with mushrooms or slow-cooked meats like beef cheek.
Stracciatella – Vanilla gelato with streaks of chocolate, originally invented in Bergamo at the Marianna shop.
I’ve included a dinner spot below where you can try most of these in one go — ideal if you're just in town for the day. For lunch, I am recommending the most famous pizza spot in Bergamo.
Pizza at Il Fornaio
Il Fornaio is one of those places that pops up all over the internet when you start searching for where to eat in Bergamo — and for good reason. Their focaccia-style pizza slices are piled high with toppings, especially the creamy burrata they’re known for. Everything is sold by weight, so just keep that in mind before loading up your plate. It’s busy for a reason: the pizza is genuinely great.
You can eat inside, which I’d recommend if you are seeking aircon, but if it isn’t too hot outside then I like sitting in Piazza Vecchio underneath the Palazzo della Ragione as it is a shady spot with great views and sometimes street musicians.
Food tours/experiences in Bergamo
Alternatively, if food is your priority, there are a couple of highly rated food tours/experiences in Bergamo that could serve as lunch.
Lunch at a local’s home - you can participate in a cooking demo and try 4 courses of local dishes in this lunch or dinner experience.
Food tour of Bergamo - spend 3.5 hours trying the local specialties and exploring Bergamo with a guide.
Granita at Carmen
Carmen’s gelato is very well rated and the perfect way to beat the heat in the summertime. They also have a variety of granita flavours, which I prefer for very hot days!
Explore Piazza Vecchio
The historic Piazza Vecchia is postcard-perfect, surrounded by Renaissance buildings, grand arcades, and fountains. There are a number of historic buildings here that you can visit within a short time. Alternatively, you can get a tour guide who can tell you everything about the architecture and history of the old town.
Cappella Colleoni
The 15th century Capella Colleoni is truly a Renaissance wonder. The patterned stone-work facade stopped me in my tracks when I first saw it, and reminded me of the intricacies of Florence’s duomo. The chapel serves as a mausoleum for the condottiere Bartolomeo Colleoni, a renowned military leader and mercenary. The chapel was commissioned by Colleoni himself and designed by the architect Giovanni Antonio Amadeo.
The interior is just as ornate, but in a more baroque style. There is no photography allowed inside, but it is free to enter.
I spent about half an hour just looking at and photographing the facade, alongside the Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore next to it. You can’t miss it!
As you’ll read below, one of the best viewpoints of the facade is from the steps up to the Palazzo della Ragione.
Campanone
The Campanone, officially known as the Torre Civica, is a prominent bell tower located in the Piazza Vecchia, built in the 12th century. Standing at approximately 52 metres tall, it is one of the most recognisable landmarks in the city, and offers an incredible viewpoint over Bergamo.
It costs around 7 euro per person to visit, including access to the palazzo attached. There are around 250 steps to climb, but also a lift that can take you up in a flash. I really enjoyed the views that the tower offered, and it opened my eyes to the beauty of the surrounding region.
Bergamo: Città Alta Highlights Self-guided Walk
Bergamo Cathedral (S. Alessandro Martire)
There are so many striking churches in Bergamo that it is hard to tell which is the cathedral! Just next to the ornate facades of the Colleoni Chapel, the Cathedral of Saint Alessandro is a vast baroque space with an impressive dome. It is free to enter, so do go inside to get a sense of the beauty behind its brisk white facade.
Palazzo della Ragione
The Palazzo della Ragione is a municipal palace from the 13th c which is filled with historic frescoes, and also often hosts contemporary art exhibitions. The fantastic staircase to the side of the Palazzo leads to the entrance, but also provides one of the best viewpoints for photos of the piazza and Colleoni chapel.
When I visited, a free exhibition by Sonia Boyce was on display, in which 5 screens displayed sung performances in the piazza and other Bergamo landmarks. I received a coupon for reduced entry to the contemporary art museum after visiting, so if you are into contemporary art I do recommend seeing what is on!
Afternoon and evening: views and dinner in the hills
Take the San Vigilio funicular
Lesser known than the main funicular ride, there is also a second funicular route to San Vigilio, an even higher viewpoint that offers incredible views over Bergamo. It’s best to go around sunset.
If you buy a day’s travel pass in Bergamo, it includes both funicular routes, so keep this in mind.
Tip: the funicular station is right next to Marianna, the historic pastry shop that sells authentic stracciatella ice cream, so now would be a good time to try it!
Aperitivo hour
Back in the Città Alta, settle in for aperitivo. The area near the Torre della Campanella has several cafes with plenty of outdoor seating to enjoy the atmosphere of Bergamo.
Eat at a beautiful restaurant in the hills
There are so many wonderful restaurants in Bergamo. Our lovely Airbnb host gave me some local tips about where to eat, and recommended my favourite restaurant of the trip, Antica Trattoria La Colombina, has a special view over the city and from it’s beautiful terrace.
They serve all the Bergamo classics and at very reasonable prices. Our dinner for two came to 55 euros (we shared a starter, pasta and main—this was plenty of food).
Here are some other restaurants recommended by our local host in Bergamo:
Il Circolino
Da Franco
La Tana
Trattoria Parietti
City walls
After dinner, one of the best things to do is take a stroll along the Venetian Walls — especially golden hour into evening, when the city lights start to glow and the valley below fades into dusk.
Built in the 16th century during Venetian rule, these 5.5km-long walls are now a UNESCO World Heritage Site and wrap around the upper town in a near-complete loop. The walls were originally constructed for defence, but today they’re more about scenic views and a peaceful walk through history.
Porta San Giacomo is a particularly lovely entry point, with its pale pink marble and panoramic view over the lower city. As you follow the path along the walls, you’ll pass bastions, old gates, and little lookout spots — perfect for pausing to take it all in. It’s quiet up here in the evening and adds a fittingly atmospheric close to a day in Bergamo.
Where to stay in Bergamo
Here are my picks, all under £150 and with a charming or authentic vibe.
Palazzo Santo Spirito - historic palazzo with a pool
Il Sole - basic but perfect location in citta alta
Antica Dimora - historic rooms
Hotel Piazza Vecchia - rustic Italian vibes
That’s my take on Bergamo — a quietly beautiful city that’s completely won me over. From hilltop views to butter-drenched pasta and frescoed palazzi, it’s the kind of place that stays with you long after you leave.
It’s become one of my favourite cities in Italy, and if you’re heading to Milan or Lake Como, it’s absolutely worth carving out a day (or more) to explore.
Planning a day trip to Bergamo? This one-day itinerary covers the best of the city, from frescoed palazzi and panoramic views to local food you’ll dream about later. Perfect if you’re coming from Milan or just flying into Bergamo Airport and want to make the most of your time in this underrated Italian gem.